Public Service Worker Protection Act

Source of recordUS Congress · congress.govLast synced Jul 10, 2026

Chamber

Senate

Progress

Where this bill stands in the legislative process.

Introduced
Passed Senate
Passed House
To President
Became Law

Overview

This bill, the Public Service Worker Protection Act, aims to extend protections under the Occupational Safety and Health Act to public employees, such as those working for the federal government, state governments, and local subdivisions of states. It does this by amending the existing law to explicitly include these public employees within its coverage. The bill also clarifies that certain provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act remain in effect. The law will take effect for the federal government 90 days after enactment, but for states and local governments without their own approved safety plans, it will take effect 36 months after enactment.

Key provisions

Expands coverage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act to include public employees.
Specifically includes the United States, states, and political subdivisions of states within the scope of the Act.
Clarifies that section 18 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act remains applicable.
Sets a 90-day effective date for the federal government's coverage.

Who is affected

Federal government employees
State government employees
Local government employees
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Employers of public employees

Notable changes

Previously, the Occupational Safety and Health Act did not explicitly cover public employees.
States and political subdivisions will have a delayed implementation timeline if they do not already have a state-approved safety plan.